Out of Town Visitors and Alpaca Fest

Friends, Aaron and Terri Browne, formerly of my building and now of Minneapolis, visited last week with my honorary niece and nephew, Noelle (8 months) and William (3 in a couple of weeks!).  No bias on my part when I say they are the most adorable, beautiful, brilliant children EVER!  I regret to say that I was so living in the moment that I forgot to take pictures. I got a couple  of  hasty ones of William at breakfast on Saturday

Someone explain to me why, with my limited photography skills, I insist on taking photos of children and animals, the two subjects who are always in motion.  Isn't William a sweetie? He's growing big and strong on the dog bones we feed him.  Just kidding, the bones in the picture were ones he was taking to his dog, Brinkley who was waiting patiently in the car....See?

Then it was off to the Alpaca show. I communed with the animals:

I so wanted to hug this guy. He was the most teddy-bear like guy in the show.

I liked these two on their carpet by the decorative grate.

 I even saw the rare and elusive Gelfling alpaca...

Same big brown eyes?  Check! Same Ears? Check! Same Nose? Check! Same Mouth? Check!

Some of the vendors had beautiful crafts including this needle felted alpaca wall hanging

And these adorable eagles and their nest. 

I watched the show for a bit ...

and then went to the vendor area where I purchased an 8x8' Weavette Loom... because I need another hobby.

A lovely lady named Joyce (?) in the demonstration area got me started with simple dishcloth cotton. 

 Then I went home and started honing yet another post-apocalyptic skill...

After the Rapture, Team Melinda's camp will have baked goods,  hand-spun yarn, knitwear, baskets, quilts, and now coasters! No getting voted off the island for lack of skills for me!  And no unsightly coffee cup rings on my end tables either!